Avionics Test Engineer, Optical
K2 Space, a venture-funded satellite manufacturer, is hiring an Optical Avionics Test Engineer in Los Angeles to build production test hardware and automation software (Python, Rust, C++ on Linux) for optical payloads — designing fixtures, optical tables, DAQ/simulator systems, and running acceptance and qualification test campaigns through hardware delivery.
- Compensation
- $100K–$150K / yr
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Not specified
- Employment
- Full time
- Experience
- 2+ years
- Category
- Qa
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Must be a U.S. person per ITAR (22 C.F.R. § 120.15) or eligible for an export control license
- Bachelor's degree in electrical, computer, aerospace, or related engineering discipline, or equivalent experience
- 2+ years of experience with test hardware design and software scripting
- Strong programming abilities (Python, C++, or Rust)
- Experience designing, building, and testing electrical assemblies and test fixtures
Nice to have
- Experience with design and testing of optical systems
- Experience with camera automation, quantitative image processing (e.g. beam profiling), power meters, and laser interlocks
- Experience with data acquisition, controls, and dedicated test equipment
- Familiarity with SMC-S-016 or MIL-STD-810 testing methods (vibration, shock, thermal)
- Understanding of failure modes of electrical and optical systems in space environments
- Demonstrated ability to own electrical or optical hardware test systems within an integrated engineering team
- Creative problem solver balancing schedule, resource, and technical constraints
Full description
K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by over $1 billion in total funding from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, ICONIQ, Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Redpoint Ventures, and T. Rowe Price — and with over $1 billion in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers, we're mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built for missions from LEO to deep space.
The rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance, and we believe this new era demands a fundamentally different class of spacecraft. Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today's and tomorrow's massive rockets, K2 satellites deliver unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.
With multiple launches in 2027 and plans to scale to 100 satellites a year, we're Building Bigger — helping develop the solar system and build toward a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and you're excited about contributing to the success of a high-growth Series D-funded company, we'd love for you to apply.
The Role
K2’s plan doesn't stop at satellite buses. Operating our own vehicles and manifesting regular rides to space uniquely positions K2 to design, test, and deploy-at-scale ambitious optical payloads in MEO, GEO, cis-lunar, and deep space on unprecedented timelines. The satellite bus is the platform – the payloads are the mission.
As an Optical Avionics Test Engineer, you will be pivotal in developing production test hardware and software to deliver optical avionics through ATP and QTP. You will be working alongside the Optical team to interface with ambitious optical payloads, validate prototype designs, define test requirements, and design test infrastructure to meet critical programmatic milestones such as delivery of flight hardware to vehicle integration. In your first year, you will lead multidisciplinary test campaigns, root cause investigations, and production improvements to ensure reliability and scalability.
Responsibilities
- Design and fabricate test hardware, harnessing, and test systems to support optical payload development testing
- Develop modular, reusable test automation software and drivers in Python, Rust, C++ for Linux platforms
- Execute development and production tests to meet internal and external customer needs
- Develop data acquisition, control, and instrumentation systems to test at the integrated level
- Own the project management of multiple test assets and acceptance testing of optical avionics including upgrades to support hardware lifecycle